Lisboeta: An Inventive Fine Dining Restaurant in Lisbon

Located inside the Pousada de Lisboa, Lisboeta provides a delicious journey of Portuguese cuisine with a contemporary twist on traditional dishes.  

 

One of the best meals we had in Lisbon, came from the new kid on the block - Lisboeta. I can still taste the exotic Portuguese flavors that bounced around my mouth, with each dish we tasted and every time I pass the wine aisle I linger around the Portuguese section, hoping to find our favorites from our meal. We’ve had the opportunity to dine at some of the best restaurants in the world, and Lisboeta has been firmly added to our best list.

The tastes went beyond just a good meal and truly made me appreciate the love that goes into making a gastronomic menu. Maybe it was the creative presentation of each dish, or the delicate way the sous chef added final touches, or the incredibly fresh and locally sourced produce, that left such an imprint. Whatever it was, we can’t get enough of it and can’t wait to head back! 

For a gastronomic fine dining experience, without the pretentiousness that often follows, make sure to visit Lisboeta on your next trip to Lisbon!

Pata Negra served on a bed of watermelon jelly with seaweed intertwined

 

The restaurant itself is located inside the Pousada de Lisboa, a beautifully restored historic hotel, in the heart of Praça do Comércio.  The restaurant is located on the first floor and feels completely separated from the hotel, in a good way. You don’t have to worry about hoards of people schlepping luggage, or chaotic human traffic jams. The decor is a mix between an elegant grandma's house and a rustic country home...sounds a bit crazy, yet it works. 

Immediately after entering, we were greeted by warm smiles and shown to our small table up against a large cabinet, filled with a collection of porcelain figurines. The dim light from our candle cascaded funny shadows and just set the overall relaxed tone for our evening.

 
 

Our waiters varied  between extremely knowledgeable wine connoisseurs and passionate foodies, excited to share their knowledge on haute cuisine. Our meal lasted almost 5 hours, yet it felt more like we were laughing with friends at a dinner party, except we were the only ones eating. Every dish was expertly described and every wine pour was explained in a way I could understand.

Guests are able to choose from a chefs tasting menu or an a la carte menu. Our recommendation - go with the tasting menu and add the wine pairing. You will learn so much about the different dishes and slowly begin to understand Portuguese wine. One of our favorite dishes was the Pata Negra,  served on a bed of watermelon jelly with seaweed intertwined. Talk about creative and delicious! Dishes vary between meat selections and seafood, but know that every dish will be unexpected in some way and far more complex than the description!

 

For more information about Lisboeta make sure to visit their website: